Best Legaladministrator Podcasts (2025)

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072. The Hidden Dangers of Overcapacity 32:15

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20h ago32:15

32:15

We don’t talk about overcapacity enough in legal practice, especially not the hidden ways it erodes performance, burns out your team, and stalls your cases. In this episode, I take a closer look at what really happens when you’re operating beyond your firm’s functional capacity. From unnecessary administrative overhead to frustrated clients and che…

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071. How Trauma Informed Lawyering Helps Avoid Burnout with Dr. Colin James 59:05

8d ago59:05

59:05

The impact of trauma in legal practice extends far beyond individual client interactions. From law school through retirement, lawyers face unique psychological challenges that can fundamentally alter their personalities, relationships, and effectiveness as advocates. Dr. Colin James, author of "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law," brings decades o…

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070. Profit First for Lawyers: A Conversation with RJon Robins 51:45

15d ago51:45

51:45

Is your law practice truly profitable? Not just cash-flow positive, but actually generating the kind of profit that allows you to serve your clients well, take care of your team, and live the life you want? In this episode, I dive deep into the critical topic of law firm profitability with RJon Robins, founder of How to Manage a Small Law Firm and …

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069. Document Automation Secrets for Small Law Firms with Quinten Steenhuis 46:19

22d ago46:19

46:19

If you've ever tried to turn one of your documents or templates into something repeatable, you probably already know it is harder than it looks. Whether you're looking to streamline routine documents or create client-facing tools, this week's conversation will help you find the most effective and straightforward solution for your needs. I'm joined …

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From Classroom to Social Media to Cruise Ship? New Ways to Learn. 49:34

27d ago49:34

49:34

Guest Linda McGrath-Cruz worked as a paralegal professional in private practice and in-house (including Royal Caribbean) for 28 years, and she’s a leader for the Paralegal Navigating Perilous Waters cruise, a CLE paralegal conference that takes place on a cruise ship (how cool is that?). She is currently the program coordinator and a full-time facu…

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068. Adaptability by Design: Building Law Practices That Respond to Change 28:52

29d ago28:52

28:52

It’s easy to say lawyers need to “be more adaptable” in today’s shifting tech and economic climate, but real adaptability isn’t about working harder or reacting faster. It’s about responding intelligently to change by staying grounded in your mission, your goals, and the strategies that support them. In this episode, I break down what intentional a…

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067. AI & Legal Writing: How to Use It Effectively with Jonah Perlin 45:05

1M ago45:05

45:05

What makes legal writing truly effective? It's not just about knowing the law—it's about knowing how to communicate it. In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Jonah Perlin from Georgetown Law School, where he teaches first-year legal practice and advanced legal writing courses. We explore how the process of putting ideas into words -wrestling wit…

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Be a Legal MacGyver. Learn More, Create Solutions 30:02

1M ago30:02

30:02

Guest Huascar Matos is a paralegal professional and the new president of the International Practice Management Association (IPMA). He has a varied background including a degree in Spanish and time in the fashion and art industry. After an unusual and unexpected path, he has found himself as a director of paralegals at the firm of Foley & Lardner. I…

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066. Build a Law Practice that Reflects Your Values, with Carolyn Elefant 49:17

1M ago49:17

49:17

There has never been a better time in the history of lawyers to start your own law practice. The tools, know-how, and access to support are better than ever before, and they keep improving every day. Whether you're facing job uncertainty, working at a firm with values that don't align with yours, or simply tired of working for someone else, going s…

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065. Scale Your Practice with a Mesh Management Approach 23:46

2M ago23:46

23:46

Most law firms start by building support structures around the expert (you), but eventually hit a ceiling where growth becomes limited by your personal capacity. No matter how efficient your team becomes at supporting you, the system can only move as fast as you can. In this episode, I explore how to transform your practice from an expert-dependent…

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50 Years of NALA! Get the Scoop on 2025 From NALA CEO Vanessa Finley 40:01

2M ago40:01

40:01

What’s new for NALA in 2025? Get the scoop from guest Vanessa “Vinnie” Finley, the CEO of NALA since 2019. There’s plenty of news about the upcoming NALA conference and new initiatives to help you be your best professional self. 2025 is no ordinary year for NALA as the paralegal association celebrates 50 years. Start with the latest on the 2025 NAL…

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064. The Dental Chair Theory of Lawyering 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

Ever feel like you're constantly juggling multiple client matters at once, switching between tasks, and never fully focusing on any single piece of work? This scattered way of working is more detrimental to your practice than you realize. One incredibly effective solution to this problem is understanding what call The Dental Chair Theory of Lawyeri…

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063. Legal Automation Pitfalls: Are You Meeting Client Needs? 33:22

2M ago33:22

33:22

Is your law practice suffering from too much automation? Today, I'm sharing how to recognize when automation is hurting rather than helping your practice. I'll explain why efficiency should never be your primary goal, how to avoid the "transactional trap" that alienates clients, and most importantly, how to design automations that enhance rather th…

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Acclaimed Author Jesse Leon on Tragedy, Struggle, Hope, and Success. 31:00

2M ago31:00

31:00

In this powerful, and deeply emotional and inspirational episode, acclaimed author and speaker Jesse Leon tackles sensitive issues including human trafficking and substance abuse and how he rose above the challenges on his path to success. Leon grew up homeless, addicted, and sexually trafficked. But he survived and is here to remind all of us that…

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062. Delegation Pitfalls: When Legal Work Goes Too Deep or Too Wide 27:39

2M ago27:39

27:39

Have you ever delegated legal work to a colleague, only to get back something that completely misses the mark? Maybe they dove way too deep into the weeds, or perhaps they barely scratched the surface of what you needed. As a lawyer, calibrating expectations when delegating tasks can be a constant challenge. In this episode, I tackle a listener que…

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061. Delivering Your Legal Work: Direct Flight or Long Layover? 19:46

3M ago19:46

19:46

Does your firm have legal matters that are endlessly dragging on, frustrating both you and your clients? It may seem like investing in the latest AI tools is the obvious next step to speed up your firm's delivery, but the real solution lies in managing the flow of work across your entire system. This week, I share three powerful strategies for redu…

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Making Yourself Essential, The Art of Becoming Indispensable. 37:32

3M ago37:32

37:32

Guest Natalie Athas is an experienced international paralegal for a Southern California law firm. She set out to become a nurse but wound up getting into the legal profession and found her place. She worked her way up through a number of positions, starting at the ground floor. Funny how things work out. Hear about the typical day of a busy paraleg…

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060. Practical Uses for Legal AI - No Hype, No Fear with Damien Riehl 47:35

3M ago47:35

47:35

Have you been wondering how AI can help your law practice today? In this episode, I talk with Damien Riehl, a lawyer and legal technologist who has been at the forefront of AI in law for years. We skip past the usual AI ethics debates to focus on the most important question: how can small and mid-sized firms use AI right now to improve client servi…

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059. Stop Billing and Start Pricing with Jonathan Stark 45:03

3M ago45:03

45:03

Are you tired of the billable hour grind? Do you feel like it's creating a constant conflict of interest between you and your clients? I'm thrilled to have Jonathan Stark back on the show to dive deep into alternatives to hourly billing. Jonathan is a former software developer turned consultant who has been on a mission to rid the world of hourly b…

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Evidence, Tech, and You. How Paralegals Shine in the Digital World. 44:16

3M ago44:16

44:16

Today’s legal evidence, more than ever, is digital. We’re not digging through boxes of paperwork and memos anymore. In its own way, paper evidence was easy – if time consuming – to request, sift through, organize, present, and protect. But today, evidence lives in the digital universe. We find evidence in emails, tablets, mobile devices, computers,…

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058. The Key to Happier Lawyering with Brita Long 47:55

3M ago47:55

47:55

Are you drowning in an overwhelming caseload, struggling to keep up with the demands of clients and the court? This week, I speak with family law attorney and author Brita Long about how flat fee pricing can be a catalyst for creating a healthier, more balanced law practice. Whether you're curious about flat fees, feeling skeptical, or just looking…

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057. Is Your Engagement Agreement Scaring Your Clients? 32:28

4M ago32:28

32:28

As attorneys, we often forget that our engagement letters occupy a unique space - they're not just contracts, but also the final step in our marketing cycle. So why do so many of these crucial documents end up feeling dense, overwhelming, and even off-putting to clients? Tune in this week to learn how to create engagement letters that not only prot…

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Passing the NALA CP® Exam, Help Is Here! 36:01

4M ago36:01

36:01

Ever wonder what it takes to pass the NALA Certified Paralegal (CP®) certification exam? Let’s break it down and set you apart in your field. You can do this. Guest Lori Young is a full-time faculty member at the College of the Canyons in California and a part-time instructor at the University of California Santa Barbara. She has been a paralegal p…

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056. Less Is More: Why WIP Limits Boost Legal Productivity 26:23

4M ago26:23

26:23

Do you find yourself juggling too many tasks at once, struggling to make meaningful progress on any of them? In this episode, I dive deep into one of the core practices of the Kanban method: limiting work in progress, or WIP. We'll explore how taking on too many concurrent tasks can wreak havoc on your brain, your client experience, and your abilit…

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055. Fixing the Client Homework Bottleneck 35:31

4M ago35:31

35:31

Do you dread assigning client homework, knowing it will likely stall your case for weeks or even months? Chasing down questionnaires and documents from clients can feel like a never-ending battle, leaving you frustrated and resentful. After years of working with law firms to improve their workflows, I've discovered that the client homework bottlene…

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Learn, Learn, Learn. Grow Your Career Through Education And Involvement 25:00

4M ago25:00

25:00

Life is an opportunity to learn, and learning never stops. Guest Jonathan Dang served in the military, then earned a bachelor’s degree, and then earned his master’s degree. He’s a big believer in lifelong learning, there’s never a bad time to take a course, boost your career, and learn something new. Hear how Dang started out looking for direction,…

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054. Action without Action with Tim Lennon 46:08

4M ago46:08

46:08

Today, I'm excited to welcome Tim Lennon back to the podcast to explore the Taoist concept of Wei Wu Wei, or "action without action." Tim and I dive into why understanding and navigating obstacles is more important than trying to bust through them, why feedback loops are essential to making progress (and how to make those feedback loops more effect…

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053. Time Management Strategies You Need: Calendar Blocking and Calendar Bucketing 28:44

4M ago28:44

28:44

Do you ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done? You're not alone. As legal professionals, we often struggle to fit all our commitments into our finite capacity. Here's the thing: having a completely empty calendar isn't the productivity blessing you might think it is. Today, I share two powerful techniques - calen…

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Mastering E-Discovery, Legal Tech, and Herding Digital Cats at Your Firm 36:23

5M ago36:23

36:23

Digital information management is a delicate balancing act, connecting the moving parts of a busy legal operation with the information technologists who manage the data. How do you pull an entire office together and manage and leverage all that information? Guest Stephanie Clerkin is the Director of Litigation Support at Korein Tillery and a 2024 r…

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052. Making Daily Standups Work in Your Law Practice 33:31

5M ago33:31

33:31

What if I told you that a simple 15-minute daily standup meeting could dramatically improve your team's performance and help everyone work more effectively and predictably within their actual capacity? In this episode, I share how implementing a daily standup can be a game-changer for your law practice. You'll learn the key elements of an effective…

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051. Matter Management Meetings Suck. Do This Instead. 27:51

5M ago27:51

27:51

You’ve probably already set your goals for 2025 in your law practice, but do you have a system for following through on your plans and goals week after week? Implementing a simple weekly planning and review habit could be the key to helping you and your team manage capacity and prioritize the right work, transforming your firm's productivity and pr…

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050. Flat Fee Pricing for Lawyers with Elise Buie and Emery Wager 54:12

5M ago54:12

54:12

How do you address the unpredictability of legal fees in your practice? In this episode, I talk with practicing attorney Elise Buie, founder of Elise Buie Family Law, about her journey implementing flat fee pricing in her practice. This was originally an interview conducted by Emery Wager for Confido Legal’s podcast Financially Legal, and Emery has…

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049. Lessons from Old Hollywood: Why Flat-Fee Legal Work Is Nothing New 19:03

5M ago19:03

19:03

Something I find fascinating is the extent to which the behaviors and practices of the legal profession have evolved over the years, and the extent to which they haven't. In this unique episode, I take a look at some intriguing insights from the legal files of my great-grandfather, Lloyd Wright Sr., a pioneering entertainment lawyer who represented…

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Paralegals To The Rescue, Leading The Way In Legal Tech Integration 40:41

5M ago40:41

40:41

Where do technology and the paralegal profession intersect? Everywhere. Guest Karen Tuschak is a legal tech pioneer with more than 30 years of experience in the legal profession. She combined her experience, knowledge, and her passion for innovative technology to form her own company, Spider Silk Innovative Solutions in Toronto, Canada. Her company…

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048. The Obvious Switch to Value Pricing with Jonathan Stark 49:18

6M ago49:18

49:18

As a lawyer, it's easy to fall into the trap of equating more hours with more revenue. But as Jonathan Stark points out, this mindset often leads to a vicious cycle of overwork and burnout, without necessarily translating into increased profitability or client satisfaction. The key to breaking free from this cycle lies in streamlining your processe…

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047. How Kanban Creates Capacity Liquidity in Your Law Firm with Richard Hoare 1:15:19

6M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

How do you build the systems, tools, and culture required to sustain and scale a law practice and deliver the results your clients need, even when you have non-standard working arrangements, or a fairly unique practice area? In this episode, I'm joined by Richard Hoare, owner of Hoare Associates, to discuss how he transformed his music-centric law …

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046. Improving Legal Workflows without New Technology 33:24

6M ago33:24

33:24

I walk you through the specific steps my client took to optimize their workflow, improve their client experience, and ultimately achieve remarkable results by embracing Kanban without implementing new software. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a larger organization, you'll learn valuable insights and actionable strategies to implement …

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045. Agile Access to Justice, Leveraging Process Improvement to Serve the Underserved 39:18

6M ago39:18

39:18

There are people all over the US who find themselves in legal binds, but are unable to get the legal help they need. As we enter this season of giving, this episode is here to highlight an Access to Justice success story that I've been fortunate enough to be a part of, albeit one that is still very much in its early chapters. I’m sharing this to sp…

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New President Cheryl Nodarse Leads NALA Into Its 50th Year 46:33

6M ago46:33

46:33

Guest Cheryl Nodarse, ACP, talks about her goals as the new president of NALA. With her background as past NALA vice president and secretary, Nodarse has a clear vision for the national organization of paralegal professionals. NALA’s relationship with affiliated associations takes a spot at the top of Nodarse’s agenda, as well as developing the rel…

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044. Kanban Made Easy: A Lawyer's Guide to Visual Task Management 31:16

6M ago31:16

31:16

When you’re buried in work, your to-do list is flowing off the page, and you’re feeling totally overwhelmed in your day-to-day activities, I invite you to hit play on this episode. I go old school, describing how to build a very simple Kanban board on your wall, a whiteboard, or any simple Kanban system. Discover how using even the most basic Kanba…

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043. The Right Way to Incentivize Your Team 29:29

7M ago29:29

29:29

One of the biggest challenges law firms face when moving away from hourly billing and towards incorporating flat fees is motivating your team in a way that actually supports the new business model. Tune in this week as I challenge the conventional wisdom around using billable hours as a key performance metric, even for firms that bill by the hour. …

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042. Ditch Effective Hourly Rates: How to Calculate Matter-Level Profit 39:34

7M ago39:34

39:34

Do you know the most profitable parts of your law practice? If you're like most lawyers, the answer is probably no. But without a clear understanding of matter-level profitability, you could be making costly decisions about where to invest your limited time and resources. In this episode, I explain why the traditional approach of using effective ho…

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Neurodivergence, Communication, and Connections. Understanding Our Differences. 37:52

7M ago37:52

37:52

Guest Christina Hough dives into the topic of neurodivergence in the legal field. The subject refers to how people learn and behave. We’re all “neurodivergent” in that we are all different. The term covers everything from the autism spectrum to ADHD issues to our own individual quirks and how we interact, learn, and understand each other. When it c…

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041. How to Transition From Hourly Billing To Flat Fees, One Phase at a Time 39:29

7M ago39:29

39:29

Transitioning away from the billable hour can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. By taking an iterative, milestone-based approach to your matters, you can begin to identify which phases of work are ripe for flat fee billing, helping you increase your firm’s profitability. As I share more insights and takeaways f…

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040. Legal Workflow Management and Matter Management Are Not the Same Thing 25:34

7M ago25:34

25:34

Are you familiar with Clio's Kanban-inspired feature, Clio Matter Stages? It’s been around for a while now, but as a Kanban enthusiast, I was eager to check it out at this year's Clio Cloud Conference. While it's certainly a step in the right direction and an interesting tool for Clio users, how does it measure up when it comes to implementing some…

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039. Productive With Dollar Signs, with Clarke Ching 41:50

8M ago41:50

41:50

I’m a massive fan of Bottleneck Theory. This is the idea that you can make massive improvements to your legal workflows by finding and focusing on just one part of your overall system: the bottleneck. In this episode, I’m super excited to bring you an interview with The Bottleneck Guy himself, Clarke Ching. Tune in this week to explore where the bo…

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038. Delivering Effective Feedback to Legal Teams 26:50

8M ago26:50

26:50

Have you ever struggled with giving tough feedback to your team members? Do you find yourself resorting to the criticism sandwich approach, hoping to soften the blow by sandwiching negative comments between compliments? Tune in this week to discover why the criticism sandwich doesn’t work. I also discuss the importance of setting clear quality stan…

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Stress, Burnout, and the Legal Profession: It’s OK To Talk About It 38:40

8M ago38:40

38:40

Legal burnout. It’s a real thing. Let’s talk about it. On the podcast “The Legal Burnouts,” guests Kate Bridal and Josey Hoff have opened up about burnout. Both worked in law, Bridal as an attorney and Hoff as a paralegal. One day they realized they’d had enough. They were burned out. They know what they’re talking about, and they know what many in…

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037. Putting the ‘Flow’ Back into Workflow 27:12

8M ago27:12

27:12

Something I see with my lawyer clients is that they have so many different things on their plate that each piece of work looks like an object, like a static thing that we need to deal with, as opposed to a dynamic part of a bigger process. When you are overloaded, that is totally natural. But this phenomenon points to the importance of seeing work …

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036. What To Do When I’m the Bottleneck with Melissa Shanahan and Ben Hudson 57:28

8M ago57:28

57:28

Adding capacity to your law practice, whether through hiring new team members, outsourcing work, or using AI to help you with certain tasks does not always add up to overall workflow improvement. This can be really frustrating for law firm owners because you’ve spent time and money on these solutions, only for the work to continue getting stuck in …